BoatsHolder 20

Holder 20

Fractional Sloop · Lifting Keel · 1980–1987

A lightweight, high-performance fractional sloop with a lifting keel, produced by both Vagabond and Hobie Cat

Designed by Ron Holder & Dave Ulmann, built by Vagabond Sailboats.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Lifting Keel

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

TrailerableBeam 2.39 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 526 kg of hull, so roughly 1,150 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.Ramp-launchableAbout 526 kg of hull, with a keel that raises or a draft shallow enough to float off a trailer — she can go back on the trailer at the ramp, not only into the water.Shoal draftDraws 0.30 m, board up where she has one — creeks, sandbars and thin anchorages most keels have to stay out of.
LivelySea-kindly

Her light displacement on a beamy beam gives 6 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 6
CoastalBluewater

At 2.98 she sits above the 2.0 line — beamy for her weight, and happiest coastal.

Capsize screening 2.98
LightHeavy

83 — light for her waterline, so she is easily driven and quick to accelerate.

Displacement / length 83
EasygoingPowered-up

28.2 — a lot of sail for her weight; powered-up and eager, a real performer.

Sail area / displacement 28.2
TenderStiff

22% of her weight is ballast — on the tender side; she'll heel readily and want a reef sooner.

Ballast 22%

Light and lively — happiest day-sailing and coastal-hopping in settled weather.

  • Lighter than ~80% of boats her size on file
  • Draws less than ~85% of boats her size on file

Compared with 550 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
22.4%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Fractional Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
28.2
Displacement / length
82.9
Comfort ratio
6.1
Capsize screening
2.98
Hull speed
5.8 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
515
Hull
Hull type
Lifting Keel
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
1980–1987
Units built
265
Designer
Ron Holder, Dave Ulmann
Builder
Vagabond Sailboats, Hobie

Boats like this, on the water

Nobody has filmed this one — but these are close.

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Hunter Marine 185.61 mSame hull family0.6 m shorterA lightweight, high-performance fractional sloop with a swing keel designed for quick, responsive daysailing
Microtonner 195.50 mSame hull family0.7 m shorterA high-performance fractional sloop designed by Nestor Volker to the International Micro Class rule for competitive racing
Melges 247.32 mSame hull family1.1 m longerA 7.32-meter sportboat with a lifting keel and a 32.09 sail-area-to-displacement ratio built for rapid planing
Drascombe Dabber4.72 mSame hull family1.5 m shorterA John Watkinson-designed sprit-rigged daysailer with a centerboard, built since 1970 for shallow-water versatility
Dufour Yachts T66.15 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA lightweight 800kg fractional sloop with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for spirited performance in light air

The family

Related models

The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.

Keep looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

Two ways to keep looking — both search what the fleet has actually recorded.

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